“What are you doing?” Malcolm asked from where he stood outside of the magic circle.
“Opening a gate,” she explained as the magic circle beneath her feet turned white. The glow made it hard to see. “I’m going to summon all those damn True Ones and Surrems with this.”
The wall shook before it crumbled away revealing the night sky, Malcolm jumped quickly moving closer to them. The ground shortly followed, leaving only the circle and them. Lights of various colors appeared around them.
“You’re purple,” Malcolm pointed out as he stared at Lanias. Her entire body was encircled in a bright purple light.
She didn’t respond to him, instead she looked at the many human-shaped flames surrounding them. “This is your last chance, you will either enter the gate, or I’ll have my men hunt you all down. Tell those on your plane they aren’t welcome here, and I’m shutting the gate permanently.”
Lrik flew close only to stop, when the white light from the magic circle flared. He looked from the circle to Lanias. “Do you think we’ll just do as you say.”’
Slo came to his side. “The blood you carry is too dangerous.”
“You’ll leave and go back to your home or—” She turned her eyes on Zaharis who’d been lamely trying to crawl away. Hereleased a shocked scream when black vines wrapped around him, dragging him down. His struggles were frantic until he disappeared from sight. “—I’ll send you to a worse plane than this one.”
Icarus and Lrik shared a look before retreating. “We concede.”
Lanias smirked. “I knew you would see it my way. Now, leave.”
The light flickered before they all shot toward the magic circle. Lanias gritted her teeth keeping the gate open, as the powerful souls disappeared to the other side.
The loud sound of a door slamming shut filled the negative space.
Lanias released a gasp and fell to her knees.
“Lanias.” Alek said her name in alarm, coming to her side.
She gave him a tired smile. “It’s finally over. Why didn’t I just do this the first go around.” She mumbled as her eyes closed and she leaned into him.
Alek looked down at her in confusion, he looked up in time to see they were back in the building. He looked at Malcolm only to see the same confusion there. “Well guess, that’s that.”
Malcolm shrugged, offering him a grin. “Much better than some final showdown.”
Alek picked her up and couldn’t help thinking that Lanias wasn’t made for plans. He carried her out of the building and headed to Jackal Headquarters to explain what happened to Tiller.
Family & Friends
ALEK’S MANOR
“So, you’re the master of time now,” Oye said from where she lounged at the edge of Lanias’ bed. “That’s pretty cool.”
“You think?” Lanias said while popping another cherry into her mouth. “I actually think it’s pretty lame, considering how long it took me to use it.”
“Is it lame or are you slow,” Oye asked before dodging the pillow Lanias slung at her. “Now you should watch that temper of yours we don’t want that Vampire of yours coming in here.”
“If you weren’t so annoying he wouldn’t think I was having a heart attack all the damn time,” Lanias snapped. “Why are you here anyway? Don’t you have a home?”
“She does, but she’s too afraid to tell Castian that she’d been planning to fight while pregnant,” Sabina explained, from where she and Eliza sat looking over the wedding magazine. “Although, he did catch her sneaking out with his familiar.”
Oye averted her gaze when Lanias shot an amused look her way. “And here I thought you wore the pants in that relationship.”
“Oh, shut up. I do, but when it comes to things like this I—” she muttered lowering her head.
“I’m sorry.” Eliza looked at her, frowning. “I didn’t hear that.”
“Ugh, wrong,” she shouted. “I was wrong.” Slapping her hands on the pillow, she sighed. “I can argue when I’m right but when I’m not. I run.”
Sabina laughed, straightening. “Why run? Just distract them when they come demanding answers.”
